Rumor: Chrysler mid-sized cars shown to employees

While Sergio Marchionne has been saying for months that the current Avenger and Sebring would be vastly upgraded before their scheduled replacement by the “C-Wide” Fiat-Chrysler platform cars, little has leaked out about what these cars would actually look like.

ShapGirl wrote, though, that they have been shown to employees, and that the Sebring replacement car looks much like the Chrysler 200C:

The renderings here about the 200/Sebring are close (look for the Allpar photo of the 200C color rendering by Alex Peterson). Someone asked about the interiors and the guy said “no! we have to keep this all under wraps for the next six months.” However, our plant manager said the interiors and new designs aren’t going for the Toyota Camry…they are going for Lexus.

The Dodge Avenger is apparently similar to the current model, with minor exterior changes and major interior changes: “the back end looks basically the same, the front end … a bit sleeker.”

I was never in doubt about D-segment drive trains when I heard that the Sebring/Avenger would get what Frank Klegon wanted to build in the first place, (or better!) back when they were going to be introduced. He envisioned, a modern flat torque profile I-4, with a relaxed cam grind, mated to the industry’s first 6-speed dual clutch manual-automatic, years before everyone else had such, for sale. Frank was sabotaged by the finances for Getrag, even more than the pitiful finances of Chrysler. Getrag couldn’t carryout their end of the JV bargain, and new but an empty Tipton factory, bears mute evidence of that.

David Zatz founded Allpar in 1998 (based on a site he had begun in 1993-94), after years of writing reviews for retail trades. He has been quoted by the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Detroit News, and USA Today. Before making Allpar a full-time career, he was a consultant in organizational psychology. You can reach him by using our contact form (much preferred) or by calling (313) 766-2304